Mac tuna
Mac tuna in South East Queensland: no size limit, 20 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: June, July and August.
Updated
Scientific name: Euthynnus affinis. Also called mackerel tuna and kawakawa.
| Scientific name | Euthynnus affinis |
|---|---|
| Other names | mackerel tuna, kawakawa |
| Minimum size | None |
| Bag (possession) limit | 20 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Jun–Aug |
| Also in season | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Dawn and dusk |
| Habitats | The open bay and passages; offshore reefs |
Mac tuna size and bag limit in QLD
Not listed on the tidal limits page, so the general possession limit of 20 applies.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch mac tuna in South East Queensland
October 2026: Mac tuna is in season across South East Queensland, though not at its peak.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: off season | February: off season | March: off season | April: in season | May: in season | June: peak season | July: peak season | August: peak season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: off season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Time of day: Mornings, especially early.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noosa | Also caught | Jun–Aug | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
| Pumicestone Passage & Bribie | Also caught | Jun–Aug | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
| Northern Moreton Bay | Also caught | Jun–Aug | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
| Western Moreton Bay | Main area | Jun–Aug | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
| Straddie & Jumpinpin | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Gold Coast | Also caught | Jun–Aug | Apr–May and Sep–Nov |
Not in our guide for Sunshine Coast, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Offshore Sunshine Coast, Offshore Moreton and Offshore Gold Coast.
Around Scarborough and the Redcliffe Peninsula
Our local Redcliffe Peninsula notes come from local fishing columns and reports, and for mac tuna they differ from the South East Queensland picture. Around Scarborough the best months are June, July and August, with May, October and November also worth a try.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarborough | January: off season | February: off season | March: off season | April: off season | May: in season | June: peak season | July: peak season | August: peak season | September: off season | October: in season | November: in season | December: off season |
| SEQ-wide | January: off season | February: off season | March: off season | April: in season | May: in season | June: peak season | July: peak season | August: peak season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: off season |
Land-based at Woody Point jetty; by boat in the northern bay on bait schools.
When: Mornings, especially early.
Spots in our local notes: Woody Point Jetty.
Where to catch mac tuna in SEQ
Bait schools in Moreton Bay (Bramble Bay, off the Redcliffe eastern foreshores, the northern bay), off Caloundra and Mooloolaba, and around the Gold Coast Seaway.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate mac tuna: Noosa River & Noosa Heads, Laguna Bay & Noosa offshore, Caloundra & northern Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island & southern Pumicestone Passage, Redcliffe Peninsula & Deception Bay, Bramble Bay, Pine River & Sandgate, Central bay & Moreton Island west, Gold Coast Broadwater, Seaway & Nerang River, Burleigh to Point Danger.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| Woody Point Jetty | Redcliffe Peninsula and Deception Bay | Scarborough |
| Shorncliffe Pier | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Shorncliffe |
| Laguna Bay (off Noosa Heads) | Laguna Bay and Noosa offshore | Noosa Head |
| Tangalooma Point | Central bay and Moreton Island west | Tangalooma |
| Cabbage Tree Creek mouth (Cabbage Tree Head) | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Brisbane Bar |
| Jew Shoal | Laguna Bay and Noosa offshore | Noosa Head |
| Bulwer (beach and wrecks) | Central bay and Moreton Island west | Brisbane Bar |
| Nudgee Beach | Bramble Bay, Pine River and Sandgate | Brisbane Bar |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits mac tuna (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch mac tuna: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Live herring
Lures
- Metal slugs 20-50 g
- Stickbaits
Mac tuna rig
As for longtail, lighter: 20-30 lb leader and a fast-sinking metal.
Good to know about mac tuna
Find the bait and birds; they spook easily. Good cut bait for mulloway, crabs and Spanish mackerel trolling.
Open in the forecast
See mac tuna in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
- Catch Signal’s own Redcliffe Peninsula notes (from local fishing columns and reports)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.